Toronto's West Queen West rated No. 2 on Vogue list of hip districts

Where is the world's second coolest neighbourhood? Toronto's West Queen West —  according to Vogue. 

The magazine posted its list of the world's hippest neighbourhoods, and Queen Street West between Bathurst Street and Gladstone Avenue was second only to Tokyo’s Shimokitazawa.

The story that accompanies the list describes the area as "a verifiable artery on indie patisseries, homegrown labels and hidden-from-view galleries."

For local businesses, the piece is a vote of confidence that money can't buy.

"It brings recognition to the area and TIFF is happening — what better time to have this come out when the reporters from around the world are here, to hear about West Queen West?" said Rob Sysak with the West Queen West Business Improvement Association.

With its focus on arts, culture and fun, Vogue says, West Queen West has all the hallmarks of hipness — anchored by the hippest hotels, the Gladstone and the Drake.

"To be able to welcome a thousand people a day in through our doors and to know that we've become a monument on Queen Street, that's pretty exciting," said Mia Neilsen with the Drake.

In making the case for West Queen West's hipness, the piece also mentions the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art and Graffiti Alley, "a block where street art is both 100 per cent legal and lauded."

Here's the complete Vogue list of cool neighbourhoods.

1. Shimokitazawa, Tokyo.
2. West Queen West, Toronto.
3. Soedermalm, Stockholm.
4. Tiong Bahru, Singapore.
5. Centro, Sao Paulo.
6. Canal Saint-Martin, Paris.
7. Bushwick, New York.
8. Brera, Milan.
9. Wynwood, Miami.
10. Zona Rosa & La Condesa, Mexico City.
11. Fitzroy, Melbourne.
12. Silver Lake, Los Angeles.
13. Hackney, London.
14. Kreuzberg, Berlin.
15. Dashanzi Art District / Beijing.